Movies setting scene for Halloween attire

Outfits from movies like "Twilight" and "Avatar" will be big this Halloween, costume merchants say.

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Blood and gore will never go out of style, retailers told the Detroit Free Press, but popular movies are setting trends.

"Any time you put Johnny Depp in a costume, people want to copy him," said Renee O'Brien of Screamers Costumes in Warren, Mich., referring to Depp's flamboyant re-creation of the Mad Hatter in "Alice in Wonderland."

The National Retail Federation expects Americans to spend significantly more on Halloween merchandise this year than last. The average buyer will spend $66.28 on costumes, candy and decorations, up from $56.31 in 2009, its survey reported. Total spending is expected to be $5.8 billion.